Beezus and Ramona

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1955

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-3

Chapters 4-6

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

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Themes

The Experience of Childhood in America

Beverly Cleary penned Beezus and Ramona in 1955, a time marked by traditional values and moral conservativism. However, Cleary did not set out to compose a book about a specific era. Rather, she sought to capture timeless aspects of the experience of childhood in America but positioned them within a sociocultural framework that she knew well. The narrative gives a view of the daily life of sisters who live in a suburban working-class neighborhood, play with their friends, and learn lessons through ordinary daily experiences. Beezus adheres to stereotypical gender roles of the era, such as worrying about manners and choosing sewing as a hobby, but Ramona prefers certain interests Beezus sees as more suitable for boys. Beezus is quiet and demure, exhibiting the characteristics of a 1950s homemaker in training, whereas Ramona is loud, free-spirited, and oblivious to social cues. Beezus’s character keeps the novel firmly rooted in traditional themes, but is it through Ramona’s unreserved impetuousness that the novel provides a broad view of the maturation process. Although Beezus’s character appears quite traditional, she idolizes her Aunt Beatrice, who is presented as a more modern single woman with a career and an apartment. Also typical of their era, Beezus and Ramona enjoy more physical freedom than contemporary children. For example, the sisters walk to school and the library without their mother, and Ramona plays at the park without supervision while Beezus attends art class. This lack of parental oversight could feel unfamiliar to modern readers, but the scenes illustrate the freedom of childhood and its adventures in a way that was typical for its era, although it was not often represented in books prior to Cleary’s works.

References to older games, such as tiddlywinks, or obsolete technology, such as a phonograph, remind the reader of the era when Cleary first published the novel; however, these cultural references do not transport the reader to the 1950s in a way that distorts or restricts the reading experience to a specific time. They provide starting points for discussion—perhaps with teachers or relatives of an older generation—or an opportunity for additional contextual research, but the experiences being conveyed are not decade-specific. For example, contemporary readers may be unsure of the meaning of “[…] Ramona jumped down from the davenport” (153), but it is clear from context that she is leaping off something like a couch or chair. A quick search explains that “davenport” was a word commonly used by people born before WWII to refer to a sofa or couch. Cleary intentionally leaves out dates or specific hallmarks of the era, such as historical events, to help her books appeal to any child at any time. Instead of tying the narrative to a specific time period with historical references, Cleary focuses on her characters’ interactions and individual experiences of being children. By nimbly weaving in the snappy, realistic dialogue for which educators and reviewers frequently praise her, Cleary helps create a believable and authentic setting. Many aspects of familial relationships are the same throughout time, with people experiencing many of the same joys and frustrations regardless of the era. Beezus’s struggles with her sister and her internal monologues continue to feel present and realistic in the current day. Whether through sisters’ squabbles or a ruined birthday cake, Cleary presents a world that continues to appeal to children, as evidenced by the continued publication of the Ramona series seven decades after it began. The use of humor also contributes to the timelessness of the narrative. Many of the events of the story, such as locking a dog in the bathroom or cooking a doll in the oven, use humor and minor disasters to generate narrative tension and build interest.

Relationship Between Sisters

Being part of a family and sharing space and attention from adults with another child can profoundly impact a person’s life experience, as sibling relationships can range from toxic to deeply supportive. Through her novel titled after the sister duo, Cleary explores the complicated relationship between female siblings. Beezus does not always like Ramona, but she knows she loves her. Parents often pressure older siblings to lead by example, and Beezus embodies many aspects of the oldest-child experience. For example, the oldest child in the family is often rule oriented, and, in Beezus’s eyes, Ramona gets to break the rules all the time without repercussions. Beezus is proud to be a sensible girl, and nothing Ramona does seems sensible to her. Through Beezus’s character, Cleary demonstrates empathy for the older sibling’s plight; however, she also explores ways in which having a sibling can contribute to a person’s character growth. There is constant tension between the sisters, but Beezus is often surprised to find that Ramona inspires her. When Beezus is struggling in art class and Ramona unexpectedly shows up, her creativity and free thinking inspire her older sister. After seeing Ramona succeed, Beezus summons the confidence to try her painting again and taps into her own creative spirit.

Cleary also explores the struggle older siblings face when the younger ones intrude on their territory. In addition to sharing a home and communal spaces like the kitchen, Beezus and Ramona also share a room. Beezus is often frustrated when she finds Ramon’s belongings encroaching on her personal space: “[…] she found Ramona’s doll, Bendix, lying on her bed, and with a feeling of annoyance, she tossed it across the room to Ramona’s bed” (97). Readers who have endured sharing a room with a sibling, especially a messy one, can empathize with Beezus’s plight. Rarely without her sister, Beezus cherishes her art class, afternoon checkers with Henry, and her birthday dinner with Aunt Beatrice. Beezus feels, “Everything became difficult when Ramona was around […]” (26). As children mature into pre-adolescents, they begin to prioritize friendships and hobbies outside the home and family unit as they develop a sense of individuality and identity. With Ramona constantly in her shadow, Beezus struggles to find time and space apart from her sister to focus on herself and her friends.

Cleary makes the relationship between Beezus and Ramona the focal point of the novel; however, midway through the story, she adds another layer to the thematic scheme through the exploration of Dorothy and Beatrice’s relationship as sisters. Beezus thinks of Beatrice as her aunt, not her mother’s sister. She develops an awareness of the two women as siblings with identities apart from their relationship with her when they try to guide her through the struggles she has with Ramona. As her mother tries to comfort her in her frustration, she shares the struggles she and Beatrice had as sisters: “This surprised Beezus. She had never thought about her mother and aunt as children before” (145). Cleary develops the sibling bond between Dorothy and Beatrice separately throughout the narrative and then physically places them in the same space in the final chapter. When Beezus sees her mother and her aunt together laughing at their childhood antics, she sees a more complete picture of sibling love as a lifelong relationship. The adult sisters show Beezus it is normal for siblings to have disagreements and even go through periods of dislike, but as each person grows and matures, they can reach a point of mutual understanding and develop a deep love and respect for each other. Dorothy and Beatrice encourage Beezus and make her feel less alone, and through their vulnerability and candid revelations about their relationship, Beezus learns how to be a better big sister.

The Interior Life and Emotional Experience of Childhood

Beverly Cleary once said, “I don't think children's inner feelings have changed. They still want a mother and father in the very same house; they want places to play.” In all her books, Beverly Cleary is attentive to portraying characters as their appropriate ages. Cleary imbues her characters with inner lives designed to connect with her readers. She often referred to having very clear memories of her own childhood, which she used as the foundation for her books. The first installment of the Ramona book series centers on nine-year old Beatrice’s perspective and gives the reader a glimpse into the pre-adolescent mind of an older sister struggling to accept her spirited younger sister. Although Beezus and Ramona focuses on the older sibling’s perspective, the reader also sees Ramona grow and learn alongside her big sister. Cleary arranged the novel episodically instead of with a traditional narrative arc. The structure mimics the way a child’s life might unfold over a series of months, with each episode having its own rising action, climax, and resolution. The dénouement of each chapter involves Beezus’s coming to a new understanding of life and of herself as a person in the world.

Cleary empathetically harnesses the emotional authenticity of a child—often misunderstood, confused by the rules of the adult world, and in search of comfort and stability. Ramona represents the pure joy and wonderment of a young child who is still naïve as to how the world operates. Through Ramona, the author explores the intersection of kids’ inner worlds with adults’ outer worlds. Whether interacting with an invisible pet lizard or running off to find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, Cleary deftly captures the spirit of childhood curiosity and whimsy through Ramona’s free-spirited play: “That was one of the most exasperating things about Ramona. She never seemed to understand what she was not supposed to do” (16). Beezus’s frustration with her little sister illustrates Ramona’s personality. Although the author does not give the reader a view of Ramona’s thoughts, her explanations for her behavior reveal the way her four-year-old mind works. When her mother reprimands Ramona for topping her mashed potatoes with jelly, she responds, "If I can put butter on my mashed potatoes, why can't I put jelly? I put butter and jelly on toast" (170). Despite having a vivid imagination, her motivations are often rational and come from a place of genuine curiosity about how the world works.

At the same time, the novel provides an interior view of Beezus’s perspective. Beezus aspires to be independent like her aunt. She longs to get attention, but not in the way Ramona does. This exemplifies a typical part of pre-adolescence. Cleary captures childhood anxiety through her protagonist’s thoughts and experiences. Beezus longs to gain admiration and recognition from her teacher, worries about how others perceive her, and frets over her conflicting emotions about Ramona. Cleary gives the reader a peek inside Beezus’s head through her internal monologue: “I feel so mixed up, thought Beezus. Sometimes I don’t like Ramona at all, and I’m supposed to like her because she’s my sister, and […] Oh, dear, even if she’s little, can’t she ever be more like other people’s sisters?” (93). Beezus’s internal distress is a familiar emotion that prompts empathy. By painting characters with real thoughts and emotions, Beverly Cleary creates a world that validates the thoughts, concerns, and motivations that are typical of childhood.